34th annual World Economic Forum started Wednesday in Swiss resort of Davos. As many as 2,100 delegates from 94 countries participate in the event. Among the issues to be discussed at the forum are stability in the world, economic development prospects and situation in hot spots.{BR} Middle East, global security, failure in WTO negotiation and global warming are on the top of this year forum’s...

“Commissions engaging in media-related issues are being set by National Assembly and Senate in Italy. President upholds the nominations with his signature”, Venice Commission member Bruno Nasimbe said at “Constitutional Reforms in Armenia” forum being held in Yerevan.{BR} It was hard to him to point out the exact criteria Armenia’s Internet media to be guided by to ensure...

“We will propose our bill at upcoming discussions of constitutional reforms in parliament”, “Justice” parliamentary fraction member Shavarsh Kocharyan said Wednesday at National Assembly.{BR} He is sure that the opposition-proposed bill will be at least discussed in parliament. ”If our proposals fail to obtain the parliament approval, we will be opposed to those of the government”, Kocharyan said.

An interesting conversation took place between Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiev and Ivan Parchev, the acting plenipotentiary of Bulgarian representative in Azerbaijan. Parchev announced that during Bulgarian chairmanship period in OSCE they will try to {BR}fix an essential progress in Karabakhi conflict settlement. It’s difficult to say what the stance of Bulgaria over the issue will be...

Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan who is as well the Chair of the State Committee on the measures for the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, has today held a committee sitting. The program of the measures will be executed within a year, from 2004 May to 2005 May. It is planned to make the measures known to the international public as far as possible, particularly to declare 2005 in Armenia as...

”I suggest to work on 2 versions of the Constitutional reforms”, “Justice” Bloc member Shavarsh Kocharyan said at the conference on the Constitutional reforms. ”We will send both to the Venice Commission and will put both to referendum. Of course, there is danger that in this case as a result of voting on the 2 bills none of them will win enough votes. So the bill, which...

”We don’t have concrete obligations over constitutional reforms towards Council of Europe. But there are laws for those obligations and a constitutional reform is necessary to use them”, Armenian Parliament Vice-Speaker Tigran Torosyan has announced today at the break of the meeting on the Constitutional reforms of Armenia. During the meeting Venice Commission Secretary Giovanni...

Within the official visit to France the Armenian parliamentary delegation headed by Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan also visited “Euro-Copter” Factory of Marseilles, which produces civil and military helicopters. ”Euro-Copter” has tens of branches in Europe, Asia and America. {BR} Issues on the friendly relations between Yerevan and Marseilles were discussed during...

”Government must resign if it doesn’t do something to reduce prices”, Ramkavar Liberation Party leader Harutyun Arakelyan appeared with this statement at today’s press conference. By his words, price rise was artificial since neither devaluation preceded it, nor crisis in the world economy was fixed. {BR}“It’s now time for Government to control itself”, he...

If the parts reach at any agreement over Karabakhi conflict settlement, Great Britain will support that. But the United Kingdom isn’t going to meddle in the processes. British Ambassador to Armenia Thorda Ebbot Watt commented on Great Britain stance this way at the press conference on her 1-year long mission in Armenia. According to her, they support intensification of regional collaboration...

On Monday, one of the “Republic” political party leaders Suren Surenyants, speaking at a news conference, said the most corrupted system in Armenia is justice system. In his words, Robert Kocharyan empowered himself to be a prosecutor and a judge. He is trying to tarnish Sargssyan family reputation.{BR} The political activist said he shares Karine Naghdalyan’s opinion that her...

GRECO Executive Director Manuel Lesertua and experts arrived in Yerevan in recent days to attend seminar on anticorruption issues to be held on January 19 to 20. “Struggle against corruption is one of the means for democracy protection”, said Manuel Lesertua. He said GRECO member countries combating corruption control each other.{BR}

The U.S. intends to allocate 800,000 USD to Azerbaijan for strengthening borders, especially Southern section. The money will be spent for providing border checkpoints with advanced equipment to prevent drug and arms trafficking.{BR} Besides the amount mentioned, the U.S. has not decided yet how much would be total amount of its assistance to Azerbaijan in 2004. Azeri hope that the sum will exceed that of the past year by 60 million USD.

Washington, DC - The Armenian Assembly of America this week mobilized its ranks to protest an effective ban by Azerbaijan on Armenian participation in a NATO planning conference in Baku Jan. 13-15, calling for a change of venue for planned military exercises later this year in the absence of a change in official Azerbaijan policy.{BR} The U.S. State Department said it too was disappointed that...

On Friday,100 Armenians leaving in Georgian province of Tsalka rushed into the office of the head of the local administration Eldar Christiani and tried to beat him. Thanks to the police interference the attack was prevented, “Novosti” Russian news agency reports. Armenians demand Christiani’s resignation. Armenians and resettled Swans reside in Tsalka. The incident is believed sparked by ethnic tension.

General Melkonyan condemned Azerbaijani authorities’ refusal to provide Azeri visas to Armenian delegates. Actually, there was no need in visas, as visa regime isn’t set among CIS member countries. Besides, the invitation came from NATO and Azerbaijan was due to display readiness to ensure Armenian officers security, he said. Melkonyan said the Azeri side had told NATO it is ready to...

Armenian Prosecutor General Aram Tamazyan said Friday too mitigated penalties are specified in Criminal Code for economic crimes. Those individuals accumulating millions could face from 4 to 8 years in jail if convicted while in the past the same economic crime carried 7 to 12 years in prison.{BR} The Prosecutor General denied allegations that the Prosecutor Office is the most corrupted structure...

On Friday, Armenian Defense Ministry’s official General-Major Michael Melkonyan, speaking on behalf of the ministry at a news conference, commented on cancellation of the Armenian military participation in the NATO-staged events in Baku.{BR} Michael Melkonyan said Azerbaijan is trying to attract NATO’s attention to Karabakh problem throughout last two years. The official also said Azerbaijan’s...

On Friday, Armenian Justice Ministry’s Press Service refuted those statements emerged in the media, according to which motion filed by October 27 terrorist action trial key defendant Nairi Hunanyan to the Court of Appeal didn’t reached its destination.We asked Prosecutor General Aram Tamazyan to clarify the matter.but were denied even a brief answer. We were told that a news conference...

“Government knows very well how harmful is corruption”, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan said Friday at presentation of anticorruption program. Anticorruption strategy has been worked out with World Bank’s assistance. The WB granted about 300,000 USD for that purpose.{BR} National Assembly’s Vice Speaker Tigran Torossyan promised on behalf of the parliament to put...

What Azerbaijani authorities did for implementation of CE-commitments can’t be considered as satisfying. The report of PACE Monitoring Committee phrases this. The report resolution also says that the presidential elections in Azerbaijan {BR}fell short of the international standards and falsification of the elections results casts doubt on “reliability of Ilham Aliev’s victory”....

Blocking of participation of the Armenian officers in the planning conference of NATO’s “Best Joint Effort-2004” exercise in Baku by Azerbaijan promises to turn into an international scandal. Azeri Mass Media, “Echo” newspaper of Baku in particular drop a gentle hint at this, citing {BR}the source closely standing to the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan. According to the...

-Are you going to give up the commissions of TV and Radio National Committee member or will you stay in office? -I haven’t yet made my final decision. There is nothing to restrict my powers in the Committee. I will myself decide whether to stay or leave. -When were you offered to the post of a Deputy Minister? -On January 13 PM called me and suggested it. It was unexpected. -Which coalition...

“Neither the USA nor Russia has problems with Armenia”, said Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan at today’s news conference. “The same can’t apply to our two neighboring countries”, he added. In his opinion, Georgia’s and Azerbaijan’s future is still obscure: it is not clear yet what kind of policy will pursue these countries’ new leaders.{BR} Speaking...